Door latch mechanism



Sept. 10, 1968 O H .T AL 3,400,961

DOOR LATCH MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 19, 1966 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 10, 1968 KQCH ET AL 3400g961 DOOR LATCH MEGHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 S p 1968 E. M. KOCH ETAL 3,400,961

DOOR LATCH MECHANI SM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 19, 1966 Unted States Patent O 3,400,961 DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Edward M. Koch, Grosse Pointe Farms, and William L. Schlichter, Livonia, Mich., assignors to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,402 14 Claims. (Cl. 292-216) This nvention relates to latch mechanisms for swing ing doors, especally the doors of automobile or other vehicle bodies.

The latch mechanism embodying the present nvention comprises certain components found in most conventional vehicle door latch mechansrns. That is, it has a support r plate on which are mounted the operative parts such as a pivotal latch device means adapted to engage a striker or keeper device mounted on a door framing structure, a detent means releasably engaged with the latch device means to hold the latter in door latched position, a system of operating members actuable from the outside and the inside of the vehicle door by outside and inside operators, such as turnable handles, liftable levers, or the like for releasing the detent means from the latch device means, and a means for disabling the system of operating members.

It is an object of the present nvention to provide a latch mechanism constructed and arranged so that under certain conditions nether the outside nor the inside operator may be actuated, or if the outside operator is actuated the inside operator is disabled, or if the inside operator is actuated the outside operator is disabled.

Latch mechanisms embodying the present nvention are particularly adapted for use with station wagon tailgates of the type described in detail and claimed in the copending application of G. C. Coker and B. W. Botlek, S61. No. 574,793, filed Aug. 24, 1966, and assigned to the assignee of this nvention. The tailgate disclosed in this copending application has the unique feature that it /is swingable about a horizontal axis as is a conventional tailgate or, alternately it is svvingable about a vertical axis so that it functions more in the nature of a conventional door. This door-tailgate is attached to the body framing members defining the access opening into the vehicle body at four attachment points, only one of which may be considered a permanent attachment. T his permanent attachment comprises a multi-hinge mechanism securely attached to the vehicle body and to the door-tailgate. The other attachment points comprise two hinge-latch mechanisms which may function either as hinge components or latch components and the latch mechanism embodying the present nvention. It is through this last mentioned latch mechanism that the door-tailgate is controlled so that it may be swung about one or the other of the hinge axes. Once this latch mechanism is actuated so that one or the other of the hinge axes is selected, any attempt to further actuate the mechanism to release the door for swinging about the other hinge axes is inhibited.

Briefly summarized, the present nvention involves a latch mechanism for a door selectively swingable about a plurality of hinge axes. The latch mechanism comprises a support latch device means pivotally mounted for movement between door latched and door unlatched position. A detent means is also pivotally mounted on the support and is engageable with the latch device means for releasably holding the same in door latched position. The latch mechanism has a first actuating means mount ed on the support and operable when the door is to be swung about one of the hinge axes for releasing the detent means from the latch device means. The latch mechanism also includes a second actuating means mounted on the support which is operable when the door 3,400,96 1 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 is to be swung about a second one of sad hinge axes to release sad detent means from sad latch device means. The first and second actuating means and the detent means have nterengageable members positonable to prevent operation of one of the actuating means upon actuation of the other to release sad detent means. Depending upon which of the actuating means is released first, the door is swingable either as a conventional tail gate or as a conventional door.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of the present nvention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a vehicle body on which the door-tailgate of the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 574,793 is adapted to be mounted;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the latch mechanism as it appears from the inside of the vehicle door or in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2 illustrating urther details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the mechanism as it appears on the opposite side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating parts of the latch mechanism in a second operative position;

FIG. 6 is a view in part similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the parts of the latch mechanism shown thereon in their operative positions corresponding to the operative position of the mechanism parts shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is 21 View in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating parts of the latch mechanism in a third operative position; and

FIG. 8 is a view in part similar to FIG. 3 illustratng parts of the latch mechanism corresponding to FIG, 7;

In the drawing referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fragmentary portion of a vehicle body 10 having mounted thereon a door-tailgate 11 of the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 574,793. The doortailgate 11 is shown in a partially opened condition as it would appear when swung about a vertical hinge in con- Ventional door-like fashion. The end face 12 of the door has mounted thereon an upper latch mechanism 13 and a lower latch mechanism 14. These latch mechanisms are engageable with striker devices 15 each of which comprises a mounting plate 16 and a striker or keeper pin 17.

The present disclosure is concerned with the latch mechanism 13 which functions not only as a latch mechanism but also as a means for controlling the manner in which the door-talgate 11 is operated, i.e. eithel as a door swingable about a vertical hinge axis or a tailgate swingable about a horizontal hnge axis.

Upper latch mechanism 13 comprises a main plate 18 adapted to be secured as by means of screws (mot shown) to the inner face of the free edge or jarnb opposing wall 12 of the door-tailgate 11. The main plate 18 has a flange or second plate 19 which is adapted to be positioned along the inner panel of the door.

The latch mechanism 13 has a single pivoted latch device means comprisng a jaw element 21 positioned at the outer face of the main plate 18. The jaw element 21 is provided with a shaft or pivot portion 22 havng a re duced hearing portion 23 extending through a suitable flanged aperture in the main plate 18. The inner reduced end or hearing portion 23 on each shait 22 is provided with diammetrcally opposed flats 24 thereon. Fitted over the hearing portion 23 and keyed thereto by the flats 24 is a control plate 25. The jaw element 21 is thus rigidly coupled to the control plate 25, being concentric there- 3 with on the shaft 22. As defined herein, the latch device means thus comprises a jaw element 21, shaft 22 and con trol plate 25.

The jaw element 21 is a substantially triangular plate member having its pivot axis located near its apex and having two depending finger-like portions 26 and 27 sepa rated by a semi-circular recess or enlarged notch 28,

The control plate is a substantially circular member having a cam appendage 29 at one side. At its lower edge, as viewed in FIG. 2, the cam appendage 29 terminates in a straight edge portion 31. The periphery of the cam appendage is identified as 32, for a reason to be hereinafter explained.

A spiral spring 33 is disposed concentrically with and adjacent the inner face of the control plate 25. The spring 33 is coupled at the center end of the shaft 22, the shaft having a slot or kerf receiving the spring at its inner end 34. The outer or free end 35 of the spring 33 is looped over the edge of a projection 36 and the upper edge of the main plate 18. The spring 33 is installed in a preloaded condition so that it at all times tends to rotate or urge the control plate 25, the shaft 22 and associated jaw element 21 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2.

The straight edge 31 of the cam appendage 29 of the control plate 25 is adapted to cooperate with an abutment 37 carried on a detent means, generally designated 38. When the detent means abutment 37 is in face to face relationship with the straight edge 31 of the cam appendage 29 as shown in FIG. 2, the control plate 25 and therefor the jaw element 21 are held against movement in unlatching direction against the force exerted by the spring 33.

The detent means 38 is pivotally mounted on the main plate 18 by means of a pivot stud 39 and is urged in a clockwise direction or toward the control plate 25 by a spiral spring 41. The spring 41 is anchored at its inner end 42 to the pivot stud 39 and its free 01 outer end 43 to a short upwardly extending projection 44 of the detent means 38. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the detent means 38 must be swung in a clockwise direction about its pivot 39 to permit movement of the control plate 25 and thereby the jaw element 21 in unlatching direction. That is, the abutment 37 on the detent means 38 must be moved out of the path of the edge 31 of the cam appendage 29 on the control plate 25.

Disengaging movement of the detent means 38 from the control plate 25 is accomplished in the latch mechanism embodying the present invention through a system of levers adapted to be operated from the outside or the inside of the vehicle door. It will be noted that the detent means 38 is provided with a substantially horizontally extending arm 45 and a shorted upwardly angularly inclined arm 46. The detent arm 46 is elongated to such an extent that it projects through a slot 47 in the flange 19 of the main plate 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is seen a bell crank lever generally designated 48 having an upstanding arm 49 and a substantially horizontally extending arm 51. The bell crank lever 48 is pivotally mounted at 52 to the flange 19 and is spring loaded by a spiral spring 53 so that a hook portion 54 on the upper end of the arm 49 is always being urged in the direction to overle the extenson of the detent arm 45. As viewed in FIG. 3, the spiral spring 53 urges the bell crank 48 in a clockwise direction, or, as viewed in FIG. 4, the direction is counterclockwise. In effect, the bell crank lever 48 is the latch mechanism locking lever. The bell crank lever 48 is coupled to an operating or control rod 55, and it will be obvious that any downward movement of the rod 55 will pull the bell crank lever 48 against the resistance of the spring 53 out of the path of the detent means arm 45 so that the latter may rise upwardly in the slot 47.

As was explained in the Coker et al. application, Ser. No. 574,793, the rod 55 extends downwardly in a substantially vertical direction within the door 11. The door 11, as are most station wagon doors, is provided with a window (not visible) whch may be raised or lowered into the window well formed by the panels of the door. In a conventional station wagon, When the window is raised the framed edges of the window fit within guide channels in the upper half of the vehicle body and the door cannot be opened, either as a tailgate or as 21 door, until the window is lowered into the well. As disclosed by Coker et al. downward movement of the window into the well results in the bottom edge of the window frame engaging a projection on the rod 55 pulling the latter downwardly. This downward movement results in the bell crank lever 48 hook portion 54 being swung out of blocking position relative to the detent means arm 45.

It will be understood that the rod 55 might be coupled to a key cylinder operated lever or other suitable device for moving and holding the rod 55 in a down position so that the bell crank lever 48 is swung and held in a neutral or non-blocking position relative to the detent means arm 45.

With the bell crank or blocking lever 48 neutralized, the latch mechanism may be actuated from either the outside or the inside of the door 11. For actuation from the outside of the door a turnable handle 56 (see FIG. 1) is shown mounted on the outer panel of the door 11. The handle 56 is coupled to a shaft and a cam (not visible) whch overlies one end of a first actuating means, generally designated 57. The actuating means comprises a pair of levers 58 and 59, respectively, swingable about a common pivot 61. At its outer end 62 (as seen in FIG. 2) the lever 58 is provided with a shelf portion 62a adapted to receive the cam end of the handle 56. At its other end, to the left of the pivot 61 as viewed in FIG. 2, the lever 58 is provided with a flange 63 and a lug 64 vertically spaced above the flange 63.

As was stated above, the lever 59 is swingable about a common pivot 61 with the lever 58. The lever 59 is pivoted at one end on the pivot 61 and extends towards the flange 19 of the main plate 18. The lever 59 has an end portion 65 whch projects through a slot 66 in the flange 19. The slot 66 functions as a guide to ensure that the lever 59 moves in a substantially consistent path relative to the plane of the flange 19 as it swings up and down about its pivot 61. The lever 59 has an upstanding arm 67 whch terminates in a short flange 68 adapted to abut the arm 46 of the detent means 38 upon the lever 59 being swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The lever 59 also is provided with a flange 69 along its upper edge to the right of the upstanding arm 67. A compression spring 71 is positioned between the lever 59 flange '69 and the lever 58 flange 63. The compression spring 71 is a stiff spring. When lever 58 is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, its swinging movement will be transmitted through the spring 71 to the lever 59 causing the latter to be svwmg in a clockwise direction into abutting engagement with the arm 46 of the detent means. If the blocking lever 48 has been moved to a neutral position, as by actuation of the rod 55 through the lowering of the tailgate window, the abutting engagement of the flange 68 on the lever arm 67 of the lever 59 will cause the detent means 38 to be swung in a clockwise direction out of control plate holding position permitting the latch jaw to move to unlatched position. When this occurs, the component parts of the latch mechanism assume the position shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the detent means 38 cannot be restored to its door latched position of FIG. 2 because its projection 37 is in engagement with the peripheral surface 32 of the cam appendage 29 of the control plate 25. This effectively holds the detent means 38 in its displaced position where it will remain until the latch means is restored to a door latched condition.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the parts of the latch mechanism are illustrated as they would appear at the n10- ment the outside operator 56 has been turned in a direction to depress the lever 58 but has not yet been released from manual grasp. lf the outside handle is maintained in its turned position and any attempt is made to release the latch mechanism through operation of the inside operator, such action would be ineflectual. For the purpose of this description, the insde operator or second actuating means is represented as a rod 72 which extends to a remote handle located on the inner panel of the tailgate (at about its midpoint). The rod 72 is coupled to the upper arm 73 of a bell crank generally designated 74. The bell crank 74 has a depending arm 75 which carries a rod 76 which is guided at its tree end by a projection or guide lug 77 on the flange 19, the projecton 77 being provided with a suitable aperture through which the rod passes. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, with the latch mechanism parts in the instantaneous position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, any attempt to swing the bell crank lever 74 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, would be thwarted by the fact that the rod 76 would abut the end 65 of the lever 59.

When pressure on the end 62 of the lever 58 is released, the levers 58 and 59 automatically return to their FIG. 2 position through force exerted by a spring 78. The bell crank lever 74, however, is provided with a horizontally extending arm 79 having an upwardly curved hook porton 81. Although the levers 58 and 59 will be returned to their inoperative position, through the function of the restoring spring 78, the detent arm 45 will remain in the position shown in FIG. 5. That is, the arm 45 will be at a greater angle of inclination than when in its normal latching position as shown in FIG. 2. Due to this increased angle o:f inclination, the arm 45 wil] lie in the path of the hook end 81 of the bell crank arm 74 and the latter will remain blocked against rotation in a counterclockwise direction and thereby block movemeut of rod 72. As was explained in the Coker et al. application Set. No. 574,793, when the rod 72 is blocked against movement this eifectively prevents release of the hinge-latch mechanism required to be released so that the door can be swung about a horizontal hinge axis as a tailgate. It will be noted that the lever 59 is provided with an aperture 82 which is adapted to receive a rod 83. The rod 83 extends to the lower latch mechanism 14 and transmits movement of the lever 59 to a corresponding lever in the lower latch mechanism 14. Ths causes the lower latch mechanism to be simultaneously released with the upper latch mechanism permitting the door to be swung open as shown in FIG. 1.

As ndicated above, the rod 72 and the bell crank lever 74 to which it is coupled may be considered the inside operator for actuating the present latch mechanism. As explained in the Coker et al. application Ser. No. 574,793, the inside operator is actuated when it is desired to swing the door 11 about a horizontal hinge axis so that it will function as a conventional tailgate.

Re'ferring n0w to FIG. 2 in which the latch device means is shown in latched condition, it will be noted that the arm 79 of the bell crank lever 74 underlies the arm 45 of the detent means. Assuming that the bell crank lever 48 has been moved to a neutral position, the detent means may be disengaged from the latch device means by swing ing the bell crank lever 74 in a counterclockwise direction thereby lifting the arm 79 into abutting relation with the arm 45 of the detent means 38. The detent means will be then swung in a clockwise direction causing disengage ment of the projection 37 from the edge 31 of the cam appendage 29 of the control plate 25. The parts of the latch mechanism will then assume the positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The detent means 38 will remain at a tilted angle relative to its initial position shown in FIG. 2 because of the interference between the periphery 32 of the cam appendage 29 and the projection 37 051 the detent means.

One important thing that happens is that the rod 76 which is coupled to the lower arm 75 of the bell crank lever 74 is projected into the path of the extension 65 of the lever 59, sec FIG. 8. The lever 59 is thus rendered inoperative to transmit any motion to the lower latch mechanism 14 through the connecting rod 83. Thus, the lower latch mechanism must be maintained in latched condition relative to the lower striker pin 17 and in this latched position it is capable of functioning as a hinge element which with the multi-hinge mechanism (not shown) anchoring the other end of the door to the vehicle body forms the horizontal hinge axis about which the door is swingable as a tailgate.

The outside handle 56 can be actuated but al] that will result from such actuation will be a compression of. the spring 71 as the lever 58 is moved in la clockwise direction. Upon release of the outside handle, the parts will spring back to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The bell crank lever 74, however, cannot be restored to its inoperative position, as will be apparent from FIG. 8. The hook-like porton 81 of the arm 79 of the bell crank lever 74 overlies the detent arm 45, the detent arm beng maintained in an upwardly angularly inclined postion relative to its normal position because of the interference between the periphery 32 of the cam appendage 39 and the projection 37 on the detent means. It is only when the door is slammed shut and the detent abutment 37 drops into abutting relationship to the straight edge 31 on the cam appendage 29 that the inside operated bell crank lever 74 can be restored to its FIG. 3 position.

The latch mechanism embodying the present invention thus provides a foolproof means for controlling actuation of the dual actuated tailgate.

It will be understood that the inverition is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventon as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a door selectively swingable about a plurality of hinge axes, comprising:

a support,

latch device means pivotally mounted on said support for movement between door latched and door unlatched positions,

detent means pivotally mounted on said support en gageable with said latch device means for releasably holding the same in door latched position,

a first actuating means mounted on said support operable when said door is to be swung about one of said hinge axes to release said detent means from said latch device means,

a second actuating means mounted on said support operable when said door is to be swung about a second one of said hinge axes to release said detent means from said latch device means,

said first and second actuating means and said detent means having interengageable members positionable to prevent operation of one of said actuating means after actuation of the other to release said detent means.

2. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in

which:

a. biased blockng member is engaged with said detent means when the latter is in holding engagement with said latch device means,

said biasecl blocking member blocking rnovernent of said detent means =by either of said actuating means,

and control means for displacing said blocking member -from engagement with said detent means.

3. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in

which:

the detent means has a first arm engageable by the first actuating means and a second arm engageable by the second actuating means,

said second arm having a part thereof comprising one of the interengageable membe-rs i0r selectively pre ventng operation of said actuating means,

said second arm part upon displacement of the detent means from latch device holding position by actuation of said first actuating means blocking movement of said second actuating means in detent means releasing drection and thereby preventing release of said door for swinging movement about any hinge axis except said one of said axes.

4. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in

which:

said second actuating means upon being operated to disengage said detent means from said latch device means has a part thereof movable into blocking relation to a part of said first actuating means to prevent actuation of the latter after said second actnating means has been operated to release the detent means.

. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in

which:

the detent means has a first arm engageable by the first actuating means and a second arm engageable by the second actuating means,

said second arm and said second actuating means each having a part thereof comprising one of the interengageable members for selectively preventng operation of said actuating means,

said second arm part upon displacement of the detent means from latch device holding position by actu ation of said first actuatin-g means blocking movement of said second actuating means in detent means releasing direction to thereby preventing release of said door for swinging movement about any hinge axis except said one of said axes,

or said part of said second actuating means upon the latter being operated to disengage said detent means from said latch device means being movable into blocking relation to a part of said first actuating means to prevent actuation of the latter after said second actuating means has been operated to release the door for swinging movement only about the othe'r of said axes.

6. In a latch mechanism according to claim 5, in which:

a biased blocking member is engaged with said detent means when the latter is in holding engagement with said latch device means,

said biased blocking member blocking movement of said detent means by either of said actuating means,

and control means for displacing said blocking member from engagement with said detent means.

7. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the latch device means includes a cam porton,

said cam portion being abutted at one end thereof by a holding portion of said detent means to hold the latch device means in door latched position,

said detent means portion in door unlatched position of said latch device means being engaged with a peripheral surface of said cam portion whereby the detent means is held in a displaced position when said latch device means is in unlatched position.

8. In a latch mechanism accordng to claim 7, in which:

the detent means is provided with a first arm and a second arm,

said first actuating means having a part thereof engageable with said detent means first arm to pivotally move the detent means out of latch device means holding position,

the detent means second arm when the detent means is held in displaced position by coaction between the cam portion and the detent portion having a part thereof lying in the path of a part of said second actuating means thereby preventing movement of the latter in detent means actuating direction after said detent means has already been released by actuation of said first actuating means.

9. In a latch mechanism according to claim 8, in which:

a biased blocking member is engaged with said detent means when the latter is in holding engagement with said latch device means, said biased blocking member blocking movement of said detent means by eiher of said actuating means, 5 and contr0l means for displacing said blocking member from engagement with said detent means. 10. In a latch mechanism according to claim 7, in which:

said detent means has a first arm engageable by a part of said first actuating means and a second arm engageable by a part of said second actuating means, the second actuating means having a blocking part thereon positionable in blocking relation to said first actuating means upon release of the detent means by said second actuating means, said blocking portion preventng movement of said first actuating means in detent means releasing direction after the latter has been released by actuation of said second actuating means. 11. In a latch mechanism according to claim 10, in which:

interlocking means on said second actuating means and said second arm of said detent means prevent re storation of the second actualing means to inoperative position as long as the detent means is held in displaced position by coaction between the latch device means cam portion and the detent means portion engaged with the periphery of said cam portion, said blocking means on said second actuating means re maining in blocking position relative to said first actuating means and being blocked from disengagement therewith until said detent means is restored to latch device means holding position from said disengaged position. 12. In a latch mechanism accordng to claim 11, in which:

a biased blocking member is engaged with said detent means when the latter is in holding engagement with said latch device means,

said biased blocking member blocking movement of said detent means by either of said actuating means, and control means for displacing said blocking member from engagement with said detent means. 13. In a latch mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the first actuating means comprises a first lever pivotally mounted on said support independently of said detent means and having a part thereof in abutting relation to said detent means,

and a second lever operatively coupled to said first lever and adapted to be operated from the outside of the door.

14. In a latch mechanism according to claim 13, in

which:

the first and second levers are mounted for swinging movement about a common pivot axis, and

movement of said second lever is transmitted to said first lever through a co mpression spring whereby, if said detent means is blocked against detent disen gaging movement, said second lever upon actuation by an outside operator Will be yieldably movable independently of said first lever.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2660,752 12/1953 Carcereny 16-147 2926,943 3/1960 Leslie 29253 2,992032 7/1961 Griswold 29248 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examner.

E. L MCCARTHY, Assz'stant Examner. 

1. IN A LATCH MECHANISM FOR A DOOR SELECTIVELY SWINGABLE ABOUT A PLURALITY OF HINGE AXES, COMPRISING: A SUPPORT, LATCH DEVICE MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN DOOR LATCHED AND DOOR UNLATCHED POSITIONS, DETENT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH DEVICE MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE SAME IN DOOR LATCHED POSITION, A FIRST ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT OPERABLE WHEN SAID DOOR IS TO BE SWUNG ABOUT ONE OF SAID HINGED AXES TO RELEASE SAID DETENT MEANS FROM SAID LATCH DEVICE MEANS, 